Chapter 18 [Battle with other Apostles of god (part 3)]
In the adjacent battlefield, Ayato and Leo engaged in a clash of titans, their contrasting styles a study in opposites. Ayato's serene and elegant spearmanship shone like a beacon of precision and skill, a harmonious ballet of steel and motion that seemed almost ethereal. In stark contrast, Leo's ruthless and wild combat technique flailed about with reckless abandon, a chaotic tempest of fury and strength that left destruction in its wake.
However, unlike Aanay's refined and efficient brutality, Leo's style was marred by inefficiency and sloppiness, his attacks a disjointed mess of wasted energy and missed opportunities. Ayato, on the other hand, was a masterclass in economy of motion, his spear flashing with incredible speed and accuracy, striking true time and again with deadly precision.
As the battle raged on, Ayato's dominance became increasingly evident, his spear slicing through Leo's defenses with ease, leaving the latter stumbling and reeling. Leo's mana use was a travesty, a wasteful excess of energy that only served to further exhaust him, while Ayato's own mana reserves seemed bottomless, his power and endurance a never-ending wellspring of destruction.
Ayato, a spear master of unparalleled prowess, possessed a multifaceted arsenal of magical affinities that elevated him to an echelon of unbridled power. His perfect affinity with illusory magic, wood magic, fire magic, summoning magic, and a sealed transcendence affinity rendered him a force to be reckoned with. Ayato's summoning magic allowed him to conjure any entity or being, bending reality to his will. However, the true extent of his mastery lay in his ability to tame and control the summoned beings, forging unbreakable bonds through trials of combat and contracts of mutual respect.
When combined with his Origin ability, 'Unification Fusion', Ayato's potential became boundless. This forbidden power enabled him to fuse with any object, treasure, beast, or living being, merging their essence into a singular, unstoppable entity. The resulting union would boast amplified physical attributes, abilities, elemental affinities, and powers, creating a being of unparalleled strength, speed, intelligence, and dominance.
Ayato's capacity for 'Unification Fusion' knew no bounds, allowing him to integrate with multiple entities, forging an army of formidable allies or a singular, omnipotent being. His mastery over this ability ensured that he would remain an unstoppable force on the battlefield, an icon of unyielding power and unwavering dominance. The mere thought of Ayato's potential sent shivers down the spines of his adversaries, for they knew that they faced not just a warrior but a force of nature.
But the use of Origin's ability in front of other races is highly restricted and forbidden for all elves, who possess the Origin ability.
Ayato's focus remained riveted on the battle, his spear slicing through the air with lethal precision, each strike drawing more blood from Leo's battered form. With every movement, Leo's dizziness intensified, his vision blurring as Ayato's words cut deeper than his spear, "You're the weakest among your group, a pathetic excuse for a warrior. Your mana and aura control are laughable, your body and mind a jumbled mess. You're nothing but a trash, a waste of space."
Leo's face, smeared with blood, contorted in rage, "You dare call me weak? I am the Apostle of the Beast God!" Ayato's retort was laced with disdain, "Then why do you possess such paltry power? If the Apostle of a god is this feeble, I'll be sorely disappointed." With a dismissive kick, Ayato sent Leo flying dozens of meters, crashing to the ground with a resounding thud.
But the battle's dynamics were about to shift dramatically, as a dark, foreboding cloud enveloped the sky, unleashing a torrent of rain and hail. Lightning flickered and roared within the black cloud, casting an otherworldly glow upon the battlefield. Xerath Island, a land where wind was scarce, now trembled beneath the force of a gusty gale, lifting Leo's battered form into the air. His grey eyes blazed with an ethereal white light, as arcs of blue lightning wrapped around his body, imbuing him with an ancient, primal power.
"Ah, variant magic, how intriguing," Ayato exclaimed, his eyes gleaming with excitement, "He's combined rain magic, lightning magic, and air magic to forge a variant storm magic. This will be a clash for the ages!" The air was electric with anticipation, as the two warriors prepared to engage in a spectacular display of magical prowess, their powers locked in a struggle that would decide the fate of the battlefield.
Variant magic is a combination of two or more magic affinities. It is very hard to combine the elements, It can be done through hard work, smart work, extensive practice and research, and talent, and also must have a perfect affinity.
"I am not a weakling and trash!" Leo declared, his voice thundering as he teleported behind Ayato with a flash of lightning. Ayato swung his spear in a wide arc, but Leo vanished and reappeared in front of him, his wind-shrouded claw swiping at Ayato's chest with deadly precision.
However, before Leo's attack could land, Ayato unleashed a devastating kick, sending Leo flying in the opposite direction with such force that it shattered the nearby mountain. The impact was so immense that it left Leo's status uncertain, his body hidden amidst the rubble.
But the most astonishing twist was yet to come - two Ayatos stood on the battlefield, one of whom scratched his head and remarked, "Oops, I used too much strength. I need to check if he's alive or dead. If he's dead, it'll be a real headache." As he spoke, one of the Ayatos transformed into a wooden clone, merging with the ground and disappearing from sight.
The truth dawned on Leo - the Ayato he had been battling was merely a wooden clone, a mere shadow of the real Ayato's power. The clone had possessed only a fraction of Ayato's strength, a mere 10% of his capabilities.
The real Ayato emerged, his eyes gleaming with concern as he approached Leo's crashed form. He began to examine Leo's injuries, his skilled hands probing for any signs of fatal damage. After a tense moment, Ayato breathed a sigh of relief, his expression softening. "You're lucky to be alive, wolf guy. Sorry for that hard hit."
---
On the battlefield, a frenzied clash unfolded between Esper and Karl Kroner, the Apostle of Jotuns God. Karl summoned Multiple Lotus beside him, their icy and fiery petals unfolding like celestial wings. As he locked onto Esper, a black-haired elf, the lotus flowers unleashed a barrage of condensed beams, each one a concentrated blast of fire and ice magic.
The beams pursued Esper relentlessly, their fiery and icy tendrils twisting and turning to ensnare him. Esper dodged and weaved, his agility pushed to the limit, but the beams seemed to adapt, their trajectories shifting to intercept him. As he conjured a mystical symbol in the air, the beams closed in, their convergence imminent.
In a flash of inspiration, Esper activated his 'Shifting Space' ability, channeling the power of his contracted spirit to swap places with Karl. The Apostle's eyes widened in shock as he found himself in Esper's place, beset by the very beams he had unleashed. The fiery and icy blasts struck him with unerring precision, inflicting grievous wounds.
As Karl struggled to comprehend the sudden reversal, Esper began to gather a colossal amount of mana, its accumulation heralding an impending cataclysm. Karl's gaze snapped towards Esper, who had created a gargantuan water sphere, its 100-meter diameter shrinking to a mere 10 mm. The water droplet, now a tiny but potent projectile, was flicked towards Karl with Esper's thumb and middle finger.
The water bullet traversed the distance at supersonic speed, piercing Karl's shoulder with unyielding force. Before he could even cry out in pain, six more water bullets struck him with pinpoint accuracy, piercing his hands, thighs, and legs. Karl's body became a pin cushion, his limbs immobilized by the sheer velocity and precision of Esper's attack.
Karl's eyes turn red with anger and pain, He gazes at the Esper, If his gaze could kill, he would have killed Esper thousands of times.
"Who are you, all?" Karl croaked, his voice barely audible through his battered and bruised lips.
"It's irrelevant who we are," Esper replied, his tone dripping with nonchalance, "What matters is that you've lost. I know you're seething with discontent, but frankly, I couldn't care less." With a swift and merciless motion, Esper delivered a knockout blow, sending Karl crashing to the ground, his face etched with a mixture of shock and defeat.
"Ah, the struggle is real," Esper quipped, feigning exhaustion as he wiped the sweat from his forehead, "I had to restrain myself to a mere 5% of my true power. Any more, and I fear I might have reduced the entire battlefield to rubble. But alas, a little restraint was all it took to dispatch this Apostle." Esper's smile was a masterclass in understatement, his eyes gleaming with the knowledge that he had held back a maelstrom of power, unleashing only a whisper of his true potential.